Brass Monkey

The Brass Monkey is an Irish bar in the Meat Packing District located on the lower west side of Manhattan. As the name suggests, this used to be a blue collar neighborhood where freshly slaughtered meats were processed in warehouses and delivered to supermarkets across the city during the day. At night, transvestite prostitues took over the area to ply their trade in dark alleys and seedy motels.

Gentrification took over about five years ago and turned this neighborhood into a hot spot for hipsters, yuppies and tourists alike. Today it is packed with restaurants, designer fashion outlets and night clubs. There is even a boutique hotel called, Hotel Gansevoort and a private club (like a country club but in the city) called, Soho House.